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THE TYPES OF LITERATURE FOUND IN DANIEL AND
REVELATION
1. DANIEL AND
REVELATION CONTAIN MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF LITERATURE. REVELATION IDENTIFIES ITSELF AS A REVELATION (1:1), A PROPHECY (1:3), AND AS A LETTER (1:4-6, 11). BECAUSE OF THAT, ONE CAN UNDERSTAND THEBOOK COMPLETELY ONLY BY UNDERSTANDING THE IDEAS EXPRESSED IN EACH TYPE OF LITERATURE: II. SOME PARTS OF DANIEL AND REVELATION BELONG TO THE
CLASS OF LITERATURE THAT IS CALLED "APOCALYPTIC". THIS KIND OF LITERATURE HAS CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS: A. Deals with the Coming Judgment and the End of All Things. Its Focus is On The Future. B. There are Predictions Revealed by Means of Vision: 1. The visions are very symbolic. The visions present their lessons in a symbolic manner by using nature and man's life here on the earth. 2. Angels are the guides and those that give the interpretation of the visions. 3. By means of the visions something is seen of the struggle between good and evil; and also the triumph of God and His people. C. Examples: Daniel 7:1-14; 8:1-14; Revelation 1:10-18; 4:1ff. III. DANIEL AND REVELATION ARE ALSO PROPHECIES. A. In Revelation 22:9, John says that he is a prophet of God. (cf. 10:11; 19:10) AlsoThe Book is Called a Prophecy-Rev. 1:3; 22:7; 10, etc. B. As A Prophecy, Revelation Calls Men and Nations To Repent- Note Chapters 2 & 3. C. Daniel is Considered One of the Major Prophets of the O.T. D. Daniel Did The Work Of A Prophet- Chapters 7-12; He Spoke Of The Coming Judgment of God-Daniel 5:25-28. IV. DANIEL ALSO CONTAINS HISTORY AND REVELATION WAS WRITTEN IN THE FORM OF A LETTER. A. Revelation Begins (1:4) As A Letter And Ends (22:21) As One As Well. B. The First Six (6) Chapters of Daniel Are Presented As History (Not Visions, Etc) Daniel 1-6 V. UNDERSTANDING DANIEL AND REVELATION
A. Portions of the Two Books Should Be Understood Literally (each word meaning exactly what it says). 1. Daniel 1:1-16; a history is presented 2. Revelation 1:1-3, 9; speaks of some facts B. Unidentified Symbols Should Be Understood In a general way instead of tryingto assign a specific idea to each detail. In that Way One Can Understand The General Purpose Of The Book Without Losing Himself In Obscure Details. CONCLUSION: There are at least four (4) Types of Literature represented in Daniel/Revelation: Letter History, Prophecy, and Apocalyptic. It is Important to Interpret each one according to The Purpose of Each Literary Type. Although the sections that are written as a Letter or as History should be Interpreted Literally, It would Be a Great Mistake to try to Understand the Symbolism (In Prophecy or Especially in Apocalyptic) In a Literal Way. Such Unidentified Symbolism Should Be Primarily Understood in a General Sense Rather than a Specific One. QUESTIONS
1. How many types of literature are found in Daniel and Revelation? 2. T F It is important to understand all the symbols in Daniel and Revelation literally. 3. T F One can understand the historical parts of these books in the same way that the symbolic parts are understood. 4. T F Speaking of their literature types, Daniel is all prophecy and Revelation is all letter. |